How to choose a good pair of binoculars

One of the most essential adventure gear to carry on a wildlife safari is a pair of binoculars. I strongly recommend that you invest in a good quality instrument or not at all. Essentially there are two parameters one needs to keep in mind, magnification and the diameter of the main lens. I use a Vanguard 10x42 instrument. This means that the magnification is 10x and the diameter of the lens is 42mm and is ideal for wildlife including birdwatching.

A higher magnification means that objects appear closer. You may be tempted to think that the larger device, the better but this is not necessarily true. Larger devices are cumbersome to carry and use up space in your backpack.10x is a good magnification to choose because anything higher than that is not suitable for handheld use. Subjects will be difficult to locate because of the narrow field of view and there will be excessive hand shake.

A larger lens diameter however means more light enters and therefore visibility is better under low light conditions. Often the best time to spot wildlife is early morning or late evening when they are more active. You will be amazed to see how a larger lens improves image quality under such circumstances. Choose a lens diameter greater than 40mm if you intend to use it outdoors for wildlife.

Another important feature is "eye relief" and is especially important if you are wearing spectacles. In case you wear spectacles and you want to share the device with your partner who does not, the eye relief setting can be adjusted so that the lens of the eye piece is always at the right distance fro the eye.

"Dioptre adjustment" allows the instrument to compensate for small differences between your eyes and can be quite handy for most people.

It is a good idea to buy a waterproof instrument with a robust body as it will be used outdoors, sometimes under adverse weather conditions. Make sure your device is not too large or heavy because it may not be comfortable to wear around your neck for long durations.

#geartalk #binoculars #adventure #wildlife #safari #indranilgoswami

Barcelona - sights and sounds

One of the ten most visited cities on earth, dating before Christ and a curious mixture of the ancient and the modern, Barcelona is unique. Oozing art, culture, history and signature architecture from every street corner and sporting a warm Mediterranean spirit, this city can leave you spell bound. Barcelona paints a canvass so wide that you can simultaneously experience Gaudi and Picasso as well as the street artists on la rambla. There is something in Barcelona for everyone, from people who savour culture through street music or food to those who practice a religion called football.

I still remember the opening ceremony of the 1992 Olympics when Antonio Rebollo shot a flaming arrow to light the Olympic cauldron, a brave thing to attempt but Barceloninas have always expressed themselves boldly. The statue of Columbus reminds us that after his first trip to the new world, he came to Barcelona to report to his king. And the statue shows Columbus pointing to the sea, urging his countrymen that their future lay out there. 

The rest was of course history as they went out to explore and conquer the world. But today, the world comes to Barcelona as if in a full circle in admiration of their exploits in art, culture and sport. 

CLICK HYPERLINK FOR: Street music of Barcelona

#barcelona #streetmusic #gaudi #picasso #rambla #indranilgoswami

Reminiscences of Jaipur - a day in the life of a royal city.

It was a hot summer day in Jaipur, also known as the pink city of India. Visitors as well as locals were either hugging the shadows of the thick palace walls or had retreated into its cooler interiors. We had arrived after a four and a half hour drive from Delhi and our first stop was the historical fort of Amer.

 Jaipur was earlier the capital of the kingdom of Amer and is currently the capital of the state of Rajasthan in western India. Although a large city with a bustling economy, many ordinary citizens still depend upon tourism for their livelihood. A city of many forts and palaces, Jaipur is crowded, noisy and chaotic at the best of times but a photographer's paradise. Walking down the streets can seem intimidating at first but one feels quickly consumed in the hustle and bustle of this friendly city. 

The kings of Amer had encouraged arts and crafts in their time and even today many families of artisans are still keeping alive this heritage as family tradition and livelihood. These are the sights and sounds that remain on top of mind and typify this colorful capital of the desert state of Rajasthan.

#jaipur #rajasthan #amer #indranilgoswami

Sajjangarh - monsoon palace

Situated on the top of a hill, this palace was built by the Rajput king, Maharana Sajjan Singh in the 19th century as his monsoon retreat. Surrounded by the Sajjangarh wildlife sanctuary, the palace overlooks the twin lake city of Udaipur on one side and the beautiful Aravali hills on the other, offering excellent panoramic views of both. A 4x4 vehicle is ideal though not essential for the short drive through the sanctuary and the rather steep hairpin bends near the top. For people interested in wildlife photography there is the distinct possibility of spotting some exotic birds enroute.

The building has been reopened to the public after repairs and has certainly seen better days from the times of its Rajput kings to hosting James Bond in the film Octopussy. I visited during the monsoons and being neither royalty nor secret agent, was more interested in watching the sun set over the Aravallis.

By virtue of its more modest scale, Sajjangarh offers a more intimate insight into the lifestyles of the royal families of the past. The passage of time has taken its toll on India's principalities and only their vestiges linger to remind us of the days gone by.

#sajjangarh #monsoonpalace #rajput #udaipur #4x4 #photography #octopussy #indranilgoswami

Kumbhalgarh fort - maharaja country

The historical Kumbhalgarh fort is located 82 kilometers northwest of Udaipur in the state of Rajasthan in western India. This 15th century Rajput fortress is the birthplace of Maharana Pratap, the great warrior king and is surrounded by the Kumbhalgarh wildlife sanctuary in the Aravali mountains, one of the world's oldest mountain ranges. The walls of the fortress extend over a length of 36 kilometers and are the longest in India. There are more than 360 ancient Jain and Hindu temples within its ramparts.

I visited Kumbhalgarh during the monsoons and it was a comfortable day trip from Udaipur. A hike to the top of the hill offers excellent views of the mountain side and it is said that on a clear day it is possible to see all the way upto the sand dunes of the Thar desert.  Since I was visiting during the monsoons, I could not see that far but the lush greenery of the countryside more than made up. More interestingly, I could visualise what life was like for the royal families of medieval India as I walked through the royal quarters of the maharajas.

For centuries, generations of Rajput kings waged guerrilla warfare against the more powerful Mughal invaders in the forests and ravines of the Aravalis and would vanish behind the inhospitable dunes of the Thar. They built beautiful temples and erected grand fortresses to protect their brethren and way of life. The lives of the local folk seem to have changed very little even now as most villagers still rely on farming and animal husbandry for a living and their attire and music still reminds us of the days long gone.

The sound and light show and wildlife safari are added attractions and it is advisable to stay in one of the local hotels and check the timings in advance if these are on your agenda. Kumbhalgarh is one of the lesser known  destinations in India and can be approached from Mumbai or Delhi. It is definitely worth a visit for those who prefer to stay off the beaten paths to explore the cultural heritage of India.

#kumbhalgarh #fort #ranapratap #rajput #rajasthan #udaipur #hiking #maharaja #wildlife #safari #indranilgoswami